Peace, Perfect Peace
In Eastern religions, people sit and meditate and try to find a calm center. The object is to think about the moment-and that's all. You train your mind to think only of what is at the moment. It's soothing and calm and gives one a sense of peace.
In the modern world, lives are so hectic and fast-paced. Can we, as citizens of the industrialized world, and as Christians, find that calm center? Can we go about our daily lives and maintian the calm? Can we train our minds to think godly thoughts and live in the moment, savoring every peaceful minute? Can we be content with this moment? Can we be in "meditation" while in motion?
Proverbs 14:30 says, "A heart at peace gives life to the body."
Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God."
What keeps us from finding the center and living the Christian life when things are hectic? How can we remind ourselves to just be in the moment? Will this help us to live a Christ-centered life?
What do you think?
Share your thoughts.
posted by preacherman @ 10:49:00 PM
24 Comments:
"For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.." (Paul to the Ephesians)
Grace to you,
Royce Ogle
I can't explain the peace that passes understanding ;-) But I think Phil 4:6-7 provides the key. As a famous preacher once said, "You can't explain it, but you can experience it!"
Our culture certainly trys to keep us from peace.
Good post Preacherman.
I think the biggest struggle in my life is Contentment VS Desire. I mean contentment is much needed, but so is desire, right?
It's hard to find the balance sometimes.
At the core, I think our culture has failed to train us to say "no". With a society that labors to preserve its freedoms, we attempt to make sure that every choice has equitable options. When presented with five choices, the one option we rarely choose is "none, please."
Saying no for the sake of the kingdom is one of the most radical Jesus-following moves we can make. Can you imagine something that would help us to recover a Sabbath peace in the midst of this 9-lane superhighway more than saying no to more things that threaten that peace? Can you imagine anything that would make us more countercultural, make us stand out more against our culture's prevailing values?
Sorry. Got to preaching there.
Good post!
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27)
Too often we look for peace on our terms, from worldly things. But our Lord has told us that He can give us a peace unlike the world's, which will keep our hearts from being troubled, and keep us from fearing the trials and tribulations of this life in the world.
There have been many religious orders (e.g. Benedictines, Franciscans, Dominicans, etc.) whose disciplines include learning to pray at all times, as Paul exhorted the Church in Thessaly to do (cf. 1 Thess 5:17). Praying while walking, praying while eating, praying while working, praying -- if it is possible -- while sleeping. If all that we do becomes an act of prayer, how can we receive anything but the peace of Christ?
Be still - is very hard for me. I have trouble getting away from all the gadgets in my life. Thanks for the reminder.
Monalea
I think that as long as our faith remains compartmentalised to just one facet of our complex lives, we'll find we lack the peace of which you've written.
Faith must permeate our entire existence in order to produce the fruit of peace in our lives. This doesn't mean staying busy with churchy thoughts and deeds all the time. It means that everything we think and say and do must be born out of our sense of Christ in us. Remember that Christianity is not originally Western. The West co-opted it, but it is originially from the East, where such compartmentalisation does not exist.
Jim
<><
nancy's thoughts...
a friend rescently told me that he has lost me to a weird eastern religion...he was talking of my belif in Jesus.
some of the fast pace is our own planning and priority, however, the the pace is driven by the world, which is mainly from competition and greed, and our fear and lack of faith.
we are not suppose to worry about tomorrow. we are not to be anxious
-------------------------------
from philippians 4...
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
--------------------
to pray, give our requests to God, and to think on the good list of things that are in the passage above, are all ways for the peace of God to guard our heart and mind.
so i guess it is up to us and no one else.
we must actually take responsibilty for putting God in the center of our life,
have faith in God for being in control,
and give our worries to God.
oh...one more thing.
REJOICE!
I think this perfect peace comes in time from simply in an act and posture of faith, resting in God. But this rest means alot, but at the heart of it is God's grace, which we're so much in need of every day. The older I get it seems, the more I realize that.
But with that grace comes God's peace.
It seems at times we even have trouble with "peace" in church. We want people to serve and be involve in ministry but I wonder at times if we foster the same kind of crazy pace of life in the church with our desire to want people to be involved in the work of the Body.
More people need to go fishing :)
What keeps us from finding the center and living the Christian life when things are hectic?
Us.
We are always on to the next "best thing"....even at church. It is hard for us to just "be". The very thought of spending the better part of a day trying to find "my center" makes me nervous thinking about wasting time....
And yet, I do know a peace that I can not explain, a Presence that keeps me calm and assured even in the midst of chaos around me.
Can we be in meditation while in motion? Great question. To an extent, yes. But even Jesus needed time to be still, when he got away from the crowds, even getting up earlier than everyone else when necessary (Mark 1:35). I know I could stand to carve out more alone time with God. Thanks for the reminder.
Contentment in Jesus is much better than any center of peace. But then again you knew that!
Our mind is the place of anxiety, our heart is a place of peace. We only find peace when we trust with our heart and don't lean on our minds.
Starting a new job has kind of wrecked my peace. I love my job, but I miss the time I had to just be still. My quiet time with God has suffered and I miss that. For me at this moment, I think finding some kind of balance is the key. Thanks for making me think about that. Blessings!
God sent you to my blog. Thank you for keeping that appointment. This is so good.
Bless you. I will be reading more from you, fellow Texan!
I apprecaite everyones comments and discussion on this subject. It is my desire that we find peace in our lives.
I have always wondered why christians kneeled to pray. I have learned that you can pray weather your laying down or walking thanks for exposing the form of prayers or the postion that we can we place our bodys in. Jesus still hears us.Psalm 46 is always my prayer even in my sleep and in any difficulties I find myself in.God is always my refugee and strength.
I think that this is very inspiring to all christians like me and my family thank you for saying that thought because it really inspired me when I read it thank you very much and may god be with you.
lancel, canada goose, timberland boots, pandora charms, thomas sabo, moncler outlet, hollister, canada goose, moncler, hollister clothing store, converse, ray ban, louis vuitton, rolex watches, iphone 6 cases, oakley, juicy couture outlet, vans, karen millen, pandora jewelry, ugg, moncler, air max, supra shoes, swarovski crystal, swarovski, pandora charms, moncler, moncler, converse shoes, gucci, ugg, louboutin, montre homme, air max, hollister, coach outlet store online, links of london, baseball bats, juicy couture outlet, ralph lauren, parajumpers, moncler, toms shoes, wedding dresses, moncler
Post a Comment
<< Home